Submissions

Author Guidelines

Submission and Review Guidelines for LIRIC Journal

Lapidus International Research and Innovation Community (LIRIC) Journal is an international, peer-reviewed, and cross-disciplinary journal dedicated to advancing research, scholarship, reflective inquiry, and professional dialogue within the field of writing for wellbeing and creative writing for therapeutic purposes (CWTP).

We welcome submissions from researchers, practitioners, educators, therapists, creative writers, and interdisciplinary professionals from around the world. Whether you are an experienced academic author or submitting for publication for the first time, you are warmly invited to contribute to LIRIC Journal. We particularly encourage innovative, reflective, practice-based, arts-informed, and creative submissions that engage critically and ethically with issues relevant to wellbeing, therapeutic writing, and professional practice.

All submissions are initially reviewed by an editor to determine whether they align with the aims, scope, and ethos of the journal. Manuscripts considered suitable will then proceed to peer review. Further information regarding the review process can be found within the LIRIC peer review guidance. If you are uncertain whether your work is suitable for submission, please contact the editorial team at liriceditor@lapidus.org.uk.

LIRIC values openness to diverse methodological, philosophical, cultural, and theoretical perspectives. We particularly welcome submissions involving creative arts-based methodologies, autoethnography, reflective practice, narrative inquiry, poetry, embodied and relational approaches, and interdisciplinary explorations connected to writing for wellbeing.

Before submitting a manuscript, authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce or publish any copyrighted or identifiable material included within the submission, including photographs, artwork, datasets, documents, or participant materials. All named authors must consent to authorship and publication. Where applicable, research involving human participants should have received appropriate ethical approval in accordance with the legal and professional requirements of the relevant country or institution.

Authors are encouraged to ensure that their title clearly reflects the content and focus of the manuscript, and that the abstract is concise (250 words or less), descriptive, and capable of standing independently. A well-written abstract and clearly focused title can significantly improve the likelihood of a manuscript progressing successfully through peer review.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

As the relationship between research, writing, and artificial intelligence continues to evolve, LIRIC Journal asks authors to disclose any use of AI tools within submitted manuscripts. If AI has been used at any stage of the writing, editing, analysis, or development process, authors should clearly acknowledge:

• the AI tool(s) used;

• how the tool was used;

• and, where appropriate, the prompts or instructions provided.

Where possible, prompts may be included as supplementary material or acknowledged within the manuscript. Transparency in the use of AI supports ethical scholarship, academic integrity, and reflective publishing practice.

A New Approach to Publishing

Beginning with Volume 6 in 2026, LIRIC Journal will adopt a rolling publication model. Under this approach, accepted papers will be published individually as they complete the editorial and peer review process, rather than waiting for the release of a full issue. This model is intended to support more timely dissemination of research, reflective practice, and creative scholarship within the writing for wellbeing community.

Reviewer and Editorial Considerations

Editors and peer reviewers consider whether a submission demonstrates sufficient scholarly quality, originality, ethical awareness, reflexivity, relevance, and contribution to the readership and aims of the journal. Publication decisions are based not only on academic rigour, but also on the contribution the work makes to professional dialogue, reflective practice, creative inquiry, and the wider writing for wellbeing community.

When reviewing submissions, editors and reviewers are invited to consider the following questions:

Relevance and Contribution to the Field

• Will the submission be of interest to Lapidus members and the wider readership of LIRIC?

• Does the paper contribute meaningfully to the field of writing for wellbeing, creative writing for therapeutic purposes, or related professional practice?

• Has the author clearly addressed the relevance and implications of the work for practice, research, education, or professional development?

• Are there points, ideas, methodologies, or discussions that are particularly strong, innovative, thought-provoking, or original?

Research and Methodological Rigour

• Has the research methodology, theoretical framework, or reflective approach been clearly described and appropriately applied?

• Where relevant, has the author critically reflected upon methodological strengths, limitations, and reflexive considerations?

• Does the manuscript demonstrate critical thinking, scholarly rigour, trustworthiness, and reflexivity?

• Has the author engaged appropriately with relevant literature, debates, and differing perspectives within the field?

Ethical Awareness and Professional Sensitivity

• Does the manuscript demonstrate ethical awareness and sensitivity in relation to the topic, participants, context, and presentation of material?

• Where appropriate, have ethical approval, informed consent, confidentiality, and safeguarding considerations been addressed and acknowledged?

• Has the author demonstrated due care, respect, integrity, and professional sensitivity throughout the submission?

Structure, Clarity, and Writing Quality

• Is the writing clear, coherent, and accessible to readers from a range of disciplinary and professional backgrounds?

• Is the manuscript logically organised with appropriate headings and subheadings?

• Does the paper present a coherent narrative, argument, or line of inquiry?

• Is specialist terminology or theoretical language explained clearly where necessary?

• Would further editing improve clarity, readability, structure, or flow?

Referencing and Academic Presentation

• Have APA referencing and formatting guidelines been followed consistently and accurately?

• Has the author appropriately acknowledged sources and avoided plagiarism to the best of the reviewer’s knowledge?

• Are citations, references, quotations, and academic conventions presented accurately and professionally?

Review Ethos

LIRIC encourages a supportive, constructive, and developmental peer review culture. Reviewers are asked to provide balanced and respectful feedback that recognises the strengths of a submission while offering thoughtful recommendations for improvement where appropriate.

As an interdisciplinary and inclusive journal, LIRIC particularly values diverse voices, lived experience, creative methodologies, emerging researchers, and reflective scholarship that contributes meaningfully to wellbeing, therapeutic writing, and relational practice.